Door latch mechanism



NOV. 29, 1933- G. D. LINDSTROM Er AL 2,133,251

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM.

Filed Feb. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 THEIR Mmmm Nov. 29, 1938. G. D. LINDsTRoM Er AL 2,138,251

DOOR LATCH MECHNISM Filed Feb. zo, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 Geoff@ l Lin dszrom and Edwin //OIZ.

IN V EN TOR5 THEIR A TTORNEY N0V- 29, 1933- G. D* I INDsTRoM Er Al. 21,138,25l

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Shes?. 5

George D. Lzzzds from kg@ and Edwin Noriz. INVENToRs.

THEIR A TTORNEYZ NOV- 29, 1938. G. D. LINDsTRoM Er AL 2,138,251

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 2o, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 4 171 1 y. Il.

George D. Linda from and Edwin North.

IN VENTORS.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE ford, lll., assignors to National Lock Co., Rockford,vlll., a corporation of Illinois Application February 20, 1935, Serial No. 7,380

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in refrigerator door latch mechanism and operating means therefor and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly eilicient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the many objects of this invention is the provision of a latch structure and operating means therefor designed especially for use in con- I nection with refrigerator doors and which is of such structure as will effectively latch the door in a closed position in a manner which will result in equal distribution of the sealing effect4 between the door and the door jamb of the refrigi erator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch structure for a door in which the latch structure is operated by a. pull or push movement on a handle or lever operatively associated with l the latch structure.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a latch mechanism for a door in which the handle operated latch operating mechanism is completely concealed from view, thereby 3 exposing only the latch bolt and its keeper plate.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a latch mechanism for a refrigerator door which is automatic in operation upon complete closing operation of the door and which is positive in the latching operation upon complete closing of the door with reference to the door lamb.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of a door of a refrigerator illustrating a preferred form of our improved latch mechanism and operating means therefor associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the door in a partially opened position with respect to the door jamb;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the handle operating means embodied in the invention;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary side elevational view of the same similar to that shown in Fig. 3 showing the handle in one of its two positions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the handle operating means shown in Fig. 3 illustrating the handle in another position; and

Fig. 7 is a face view of the latch mechanism embodied in the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, of the modied form of the invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the handle-operated means embodied in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the handie operating means shown in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is an end elevational detail View of the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11.

Fig. 13 is a Aside elevation of the latch bolt mechanism as viewed along lines I3-I3 of Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the door jamb of a refrigerator is indicated at I and this door jamb includes a recessed portion I I in which there is mounted a body plate I2 secured to the lamb by means of screw elements I3 or the like.

On the face of this body plate I2 is a knurled portion I4 which is adapted to have interfitting connection with knurls I formed in plate I6 which is adjustably connected to the body plate I2 by means of a slot and screw connection I'I.

The plate I6 is provided with a. keeper head I8 which in the present instance is preferably formed as an integral part of the plate I6.

The refrigerator door is indicated at I9 and this door I9 includes the usual sealing ange 2|; which overlaps a predetermined portion of the face plate 2| of the jamb I0, the sealing iiange 20 having connected thereto in a well-known manner a compressible sealing strip 22. The rail 23 of the door I9 is provided with a recessed portion 24 within which is arranged the mechanism indicated at L.

dommunicating with this recess 24 is an upening 25 for reasons which will hereinafter be set forth.

Flange elements are indicated at 26 and these flange elements are formed as an integral part of a housing 21 which is arranged within the recess 24 with the flange elements 26 secured to the rail member 23 as shown in Fig. 'I by means of connecting screws or elements 28.

Formed as an integral part of the housing 2'I are spaced ears 29. Mounted between these ears 29 and connected thereto by means of a pintle 30 is a latch member 3| having a cut out portion 32 adapted to receive the keeper head I8 when the door is in closed position.

Adjacent this cut out portion 32 is a lip 33 which is adapted to engage the keeper head I8 when the door is moved to its closed position with respect to the jamb I3 so as to pivot the latch member` 3| into a position (counterclockwise, Fig. 2). wherein, by the action of spring means hereinafter described, the latch member 3| will be moved in snap-like action into position to receive the keeper head |8 so as to effectuatc efficient latching and sealing engagement between the door and the jamb.

Opposite to the cut out portion 32 there is formed in the latch member 3| a shoulder 34 and a tongue 31 providing between the latter a seat for the spring means 81.

Opposite this shoulder 34 there is provided in the wall 35 of the housing 21 an indentation providing a recess 36. Abutting the shoulder 34 and engaging in the recess 36 is the end portion 81 of a member 88 which projects axially through a coiled expansion spring 39.

Carried by the latch member 3| are lateral pins 4I operatively engaged in slots 40 formed in opposing walls of the housing 21 to stabilize the pivotal movement of the latch member 3|.

Adjacent the pintle 3l) the latch member 3| provides an abutment finger nose 42 adapted to engage an end 43 of an operating plate or latchreleasing member 44 pivotally supported by a pin 45 carried by the housing 21.

As seen in Fig. 2, the latch bolt 3| is provided with an arcuate edge 42 of substantially concave form adjacent the abutment finger or nose 42 while the latch-releasing member 44 has a convexly curved edge 43 adjoining the end or nose 43 thereof, and in the open or released position illustrated in this gure, the arcuate edge portion 43' of the releasing member 44 fits substantially into the complementary concave edge curvature of the latch member 3| and thus serves to limit the opening movement of the latch member under urgence of the spring 39, in addition to conserving space and permitting an efficient disposition of the operating elements in the housing.

The wall 35 of the housing 21 provides a bearing sleeve 46. Slidably mounted in this bearing sleeve 46 is a button 41 adapted to engage an adjacent extended portion 48 of the plate 44. This button is adjustably mounted upon the thread bearing end portion 49 of a pin 50 which extends through the opening 25 of the rail 23.

Secured to the outer plate 23' of the door I9 is a bracket structure 50, the connection being accomplished through the medium of screw elements 5|. This bracket structure provides spaced ears 52 and pivotally supported by this bracket structure by means of a pintle 53 is a handle 54. This handle 54 provides oppositely disposed roller or bearing elements 55 and 56 carried by the handle through the medium of pintles 51.

'I'hese roller elements 55 and 56 are adapted to have alternate engagement with a plate 58 pivotally supported from a pintle 59 carried by the ears 52. 'I'his plate 58 is operated upon by a spring element 60 supported by the pintle 59 and is urged by this spring to bear against the roller elements to retain the handle element in a position substantially mid-way between its two extreme points of. movement.

The plate 58 is adapted to be brought into engagement with the head 8| of the pin 50.

Operation The operation of our improved latch structure is as follows:

To open the door the handle element may be moved about its pintle 53 either in a direction away from the door or toward the door so as to bring the plate 58 into position to move the pin or latch-operating member 50' inwardly against the operating plate 44 to effectuate pivotal movement of the latch member 3| from latched position against the action of the spring 39. This movement of the latch member 3| against the action of the spring 39 compresses that spring and inasmuch as spring 39, as shown in Fig. 2, is out of axial alignment with respect to the pintle 38 it will when under compression function to retain the latch member 3| in latched position with respect to the keeper head I8, in which condition the convex edge formation 43' of the operating link or latch-releasing member 44 is tted into the concave edge formation 42' of the latch bolt.

Thus the door is now in a position to be opened.

In closing the door, the lip 33 is brought into engagement with the latch head I8 and upon this engagement by virtue of the closing movement of the door, the latch member 3| is caused to be pivoted in a direction for latched engagement with the latch head I8. As the latch member 3| pivots about the pin 30 by virtue of the engagement of the lip 33 with the keeper head I8 during the closing movement of the door, the spring 39 and its supportingmember 81-88 will be moved (from the position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 2 into the position in which the same are shown in Fig. 1), and when the spring 39 and its supporting member 81-88 are thus moved, they will act to automatically in snap-like action pivot the latch member 3| so as to snap the keeper head I8 into the recess 32 thereby to eiectuate positive latched connection between the latch member 3| and the keeper head I8.

To complete the invention, a suitable face plate I8' is secured to the door and this face plate is provided with a slot I9 through which the latch member moves.

The bracket structure 52 is likewise concealed by a suitable plate indicated at 41 and which plate is provided with a slot 48' through which the handle 54 is projected.

As shown in the drawings, the engaging face 2|' of the keeper head I8 is somewhat undercut. It is also apparent that the arc through which the latch member swings is such that there is effectuated a drawing action between the latch member and the keeper head I8. The purpose of this drawing action is to cause that portion of the door overlapping the jamb to be drawn against the jamb by the aforesaid pivotal movement of the latch member 3| under the action of the spring 39 when brought into latched engagement with the keeper head I8 as heretofore stated thereby compressing the sealing member or element 22 to eiectuate equal distribution of the sealing function of this member 22 in addition to resulting in a positive latched connection between the keeper plate and the latch member.

In the modication shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive the keeper structure, generally indicated at 55, is the same as that shown in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive and comprises a keeper plate 56 which includes a latch plate 58, which is similar to the latch plate |8, and this keeper plate 56-58 isassociated with the other parts ot the keeper structure 55, and with the refrigerator door 51 in the manner hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 relative to the keeper |6|8 and. associated parts. v

Likewise, in this modified form of the invention the arrangement of the sealing flange 85 and of the compressible sealing strip 86 are the same as hereinbefore described and shown relative to the sealing flange 20 and the sealing strip 22 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '1 inclusive.

In this modied form of the invention, the auxiliary member "-48 embodied in the form of the preferred form of invention shown in Figs.

1 to 7 is eliminated and the number of parts employed is reduced. In this form of the invention there is provided a latch member 59, which is similar to the latch member 3|, and this latch member 59 is pivotally mounted, as at 60, in a supporting frame 61 which is mounted in recess 6| which is formed in the door 62; this latch member 59 has an undercut or cut-out portion 63 which is adapted to receive the extension 58 of the latch keeper plate and this latch member 59 has an extension 64 which is adapted to be proiected over the extension 58 of the keeper 56 into latching engagement therewith.

A Carried by the latch member 59 is a pin 65 which works in corresponding slots 56 which are provided in opposite walls of a U-shaped member 68 which is slidably arranged in a housing 61 which is in turn arranged in the recess 6|; this pin 65 also working in slots similar to the slots 66 and which are provided in opposite walls of the housing 61.

Formed in the peripheral surface of the latch member 59 is a notched portion or recess 69 (Figs. 8 and 9) and engaged in this recess or notched portion 69 is one end portion 10 of an expansion spring 1| which is arranged in the housing 61. The other end portion 13 of this spring 1| is engaged, as at 13, in the end wall 14 of the housing 61.

Attached to the door 62 on the outer side thereof is a face plate 15 which has an extension 16 and provided in this extension 16 is an opening 11 (Fig. 12) through which is projected the end portion 18 of the slidable U-shaped member 68 (Fig. 10).

Attached to the face plate 15 is a housing 80 and pivotally mounted in the housing 80, as at 19, is a handle member 8|, and normally urging the handle 8| into full line position (Fig. 10) is a spring 82 which is arranged upon the pintle 19 upon which the handle 8| is mounted. Y

Operation of the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive When the door 62 is in closed position, as in Fig. 8, it may be opened by pivoting the handle 8| from full to dotted line position (Fig. 10). This movement of the handle member 8| acts through the pin 83 to withdraw the slidable member 68-18 from full to dotted line position (Fig. 10), whereupon the pin 65 acts upon the latch member 59 to pivot the latter (clockwise, Figs. 8 and 9) and as the axis of the spring 1| passes the center of the pivot 60 the spring 1| actsupon the latch member 59 to snap the same quickly into open position, as in Fig. 9, so that the extension 84 of the latch member 59 may pass the extension 58 of the keeper plate 56, whereupon the door may be opened.

When the door 62 is moved to closed position,

as in Fig. 8, (from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 8) the arm or extension 84 of the latch member 59 engages the extension 58 of the keeper 56, thereby pivoting the keeper 56 (in a counterclockwise direction. Fig. 9) and as the axis of the spring 1| passes the center of the pivot 60 the spring 1| snaps the latch member (in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 9) into latched position, as in Fig. 8, whereupon the spring 82 then resets the handle 8| back into its initial position, as in full lines, Fig. 10.

While we have shown our improved latch mechanism and operating means therefor associated with a refrigerator door, it is obvious and manifest that this illustration is for the purpose of illustrating and describing the preferred environment of our invention.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of constructionfor carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modiiications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch including a housing, a, substantially elongated bolt pivotally mounted near one of its ends in said housing and having a concave longitudinal edge portion providing a laterally extending nose and a lateral tongue at the ends of said edge portion, a shoulder on said bolt spaced from said tongue and providing with the latter a seat, snap action spring mechanism in said housing and having a part disposed in said seat-for operative bearing engagement with the bolt, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said bolt, together with operating means including an operating member pivotally mounted between its ends in said housing and having a curved edge portion between said ends vcomplementary to the edge portion of the bolt between the nose and tongue thereof, one of said ends of the operating member having bearing engagement with said nose for eiecting snap action movement of the bolt out of latching position, said edge portions of the bolt and the operating member closely confronting each other when said bolt is in unlatched position and said operating member being recessed to receive said tongue when the bolt and operating member are in confronting relation as aforesaid.

2. A latch including a mounting, an elongated bolt pivotally mounted near one of its ends on said mounting and having a laterally extending abutment finger near its pivotal point, a lateral tongue spaced from said linger toward the opposite end of the bolt and a shoulder spaced toward said opposite end away from said tongue and providing a seat, snap action mechanism operatively engaging said bolt in said seat, slot means in said mounting and pin means on said bolt disposed in the slot means for limiting movement of the bolt, together with a bolt operating member pivotally mounted between its ends on said mounting, one of said ends operatively engaging said abutment finger, said operating member being movable to effect snap action of said bolt out of latching position and having an edge portion closely interfltting a complementary edge portion on said bolt when the latter is in unlatched position, said operating member further rns being recessed to receive said tongue when in intertting relation with the bolt.

3. A latch including a housing, a bolt pivotally mounted at one of its ends in said housing for movement into and out of latching position, said bolt having a laterally extensive nose near its pivotal mounting and a laterally extensive tongue spaced from said nose with a curved edge portion between said nose and tongue, said bolt further having a shoulder portion near said tongue and providing a seat, snap action spring means operatively engaging said bolt in said seat, t0- gether with bolt operating means in the form of an operating member pivotally mounted between its ends in said housing and having a curved edge portion between said ends and complementary to said curved portion of the bolt, said curved edge of the operating member being open to receive said tongue, said operating member engaging said nose portion and being movable to effect snap action of said bolt, the latter closely intertting with said operating member when in unlatched position with said tongue received within the operating member.

4. A latch comprising a housing having a bolt pivotally mounted therein for movement into and out of latching position, said bolt having a substantially laterally extending nose and a lateral tongue 'spaced therefrom with a substantially arcuate portion disposed between said tongue and nose, a latch operating member pivoted between its ends in said housing and one of said ends having bearing engagement with said nose, said member having an edge portion between said ends complementary to said curved portion of the bolt between the nose and tongue, snap operating mechanism operably engaging said bolt behind said tongue and operable when the bolt is moved predetermined distances in either direction to snap the same into or out of latching position, said tongue fitting within said latch operating member when said bolt is snapped out of latching position as aforesaid 5. A latching device for a closure member, such as a door or the like, comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in, or formed as a part of, the closure member, a latch member pivotally mounted in the said housing for movement into and out of latched or effective position and having pin means extended laterally therefrom and movable therewith in arcuate slot means formed in said housing to limit the pivotal movement of the latch member, a latchreleasing member pivotally mounted in, said housing and having an end portion engageable with the said latch member so as to move the latter into unlatched or ineifective position, an operating member slidably mounted in a wall of said housing and having a portion engageable with an end 'portion of saidlatch-releasing member so as to pivot the latter in a direction to move said latch member into unlatched or ineifective position, and means including a spring arranged in said housing and having a bearing reaction upon the said latch member, eccentrically relative to the pivotal mounting of the latter, and tending to pivot the same, at diierent times, into and out of effective or latched position, said latch member having a concaved edge portion adapted to receive a convexly curved edge portion of said latch-releasing member, when the said latch member is in unlatched position.

6. A latch structure including a support, a latch member pivotally mounted on said support and having a curved edge portion with an abutaisaaci i ment ilnger adjoiningl the same and a tongue extending therefrom at a distance from said finger, spring means disposed eccentrically of said latch member and engageable with the same in a seat formed by said tongue and effective to move said member into and out of latching position responsive to initial movements of said latch member predetermined amounts in either said direction, an operating arm arranged for reciprocable sliding movement on said support, and a latch-releasing member having a recessed portion to receive said tongue pivotally mounted on said support and having an end portion engageable with said abutment nger to pivot said latch member into position for movement by said spring means into non-latching condition, wherein a portion oi said latch-releasing member is received in said curved edge Portionof the latch member with said tongue received in said recessed portion of the releasing member, said operating arm being engageable with said latchreleasing member to pivot the latter for operation by the spring meansin the manner aforesaid.

7. A latch structure including a support oi! substantially U-shape in cross section, the free end portions of the 'U formation being bent in divergent directions to provide mounting anges having a pair of oppositely disposed ears extended laterally away therefrom adjacent the open end of said U between said ilanges, a latch pivotally mountedon a pintle extended between said ears, said latch having a re-entrant side portion disposed within said housing, a latch-releasing member pivotally mounted in said housing andhaving a curved side portion which nts substantially into said re-entrant side of the latch when the latter is in non-latching position, said releasing member further having a nose formation engaging said latch i-n the re-entrant portion thereof, an operating member mounted for slidable movement on said housing and being engageable with said releasing member to pivot the same and move said latch in a direction toward non-latching position, together with spring means having over-center bearing relation with said latch to snap the latter into and out of latching position responsive to movements of the latch predetermined distances in either said direction, said latch having laterally extending pin means movable in arcuate slot means formed in said support whereby the pivotal movement of the latch may be limited.

8. A latch structure including a substantially U-shaped housing. a latch -pivotally mounted on said housing for movement in a direction into and out of the same and into and out of latching position, said latch having oppositely disposed recessed portions, one of the same being adapted to engage a latch-keeperv disposed externally of the housing, the other said recessed portion being exposed to the interior of the housing and having at its extremities spaced and substantially lateral nose projections arranged near the ends of said recess, a latch-releasing member pivotally mounted between its ends in said housing and having one of said ends movable into said exposed recess of the latch member for bearing engagement with the rst one of said nose portions thereof, whereby to pivot said latch in a direction into said housing and out of latching position, said latch-releasing member having a convexly arcuated edge portion received substantially within said interiorly exposed recess of the latch member when the latter is in non-latching position as aforesaid. and said latch-releasing member having a recessed formation in which the second said nose portion of the latch member, opposite to that engaged by the end of the latch-releasing member, is received when the latch member is in non-latching position, spring means arranged in said housing and having bearing engagement with said second mentioned nose formation of the latch member and operable to snap the latter into and out of latched position responsive to movements of the same predetermined distances in either direction, said latch and housing having cooperating pin and slot means for limiting the pivotal movement of the latch member by said spring means, and means reciprocably movable in said housing into and out of engagement with said latch-releasing member to pivot the same and move said latch member for operation by said spring means into non-latching position.

GEORGE D. LINDSTROM. EDWIN NORTH. 

